Folding car-step.



D. L. MILLER, F. T. LOBAGHflz O. P. PETERS.

FOLDING UAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1913.

1,104,874. Patented July 21, 1914.

DAVID L. MILLER, FRED T. LOBACH, AND CHARLES F.

PENNSYLVANIA.

PETERS, 0F EGYPT,

FOLDING GAR-STEP.

ioness.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1914s.

Application filed August 25, 1913. Serial No. 786,544.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, DAVID L. MILLER, Fen) T.lioBAci-i, and CHARLES F. PETERS, citizens of the United States,residing at Egypt, in the county of Lehigh, State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Car- Steps; andwe do hereby declare the followiug to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in folding carsteps.

The disadvantages of the present method of providing a temporary stepfor the space which must necessarily be provided between the bottomfixed step of the car and the ground are very well known.

The object of the invention therefore is to obviate the necessity forusing the present box or other support placed on the ground, byproviding a step attached to the stationary steps of the car and soarranged that it may be readily folded to lie thereunder and present noobstruction, the object further contemplating the provision of such adevice which is readily and easily operated.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of such adevice which is of such simple structure that it is durable in use andmay be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novelcombination, formation and arrangement of parts to be more fullyhereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings andparticularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein similar charactersof reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the platform steps of the car,showing the improved folding step applied thereto, and in foldedrelation, Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the step moved to openposition, Fig. 3 is a top plan view of what is shown in 1, Fig. d is aside elevational view of themovable step. showing the side other thanthat shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of thehinge elements, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the other hingeelement.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, wherein is illustrated thepreferred form of the invention, a portion of the car platform isdesignated at 5. Depending from the platform are the side members orstringers 6 of theusual stationary steps thereof and between which aresecured the tread portions 7 The movable step comprises a riser 8 and atread 9. For pivotally connecting these members together and to thestationary steps, a plate 10 is positioned at and secured to each end ofthe riser, said plate extending past the upper end of the riser andterminating in a lateral extension 11 and said plate terminating shortof the lower end of the riser and provided with a lateral extension 12.Pivoted to the outer face of each stringer 6 is a plate 13 from thelower end of which extends a pint-1e l l passed through an opening inthe lateral extension 11. Secured to each end of the tread is a similarplate having a pintle 15 extending through the extension 12.

Thus it is seen that a hinge structure is provided. which braces theends of the riser, which is simple in structure and easy to assemble andit is further observed that by this hinge structure the riser 8 andtread 9 are prevented from swinging outwardly past their normalposition. A collapsible brace 16 is also provided and pivotally securedat 17 at its ends to the adjacent ends of the tread and riser.

For actuating the movable step to extended or folded position, a link 18is pivotally secured to the forward portion of one end of the tread andpivoted to the link is a lever 19 which extends along one riser andabove the same, terminating in a handle portion 20. A guide 21 embracesthe lever and is secured to the riser adjacent its upper end. A secondguide 22 is disposed adjacent the lower end of the riser. As shown inFig. 1 of the drawings, when the steps are in closed position, the guide22 embraces the upper end of the link 18. In opening or unfolding thestep, the lever 19 is pushed downwardly, causing the riser to swingoutwardly on its pivot. In this movement the bracket 22 prevents thetread from moving relatively to the riser. en the riser has been swungoutwardly a suflicient distance, "be pivotal connection of the lever 19and link passes the bracket 22 and the link is thus free to swing andmove the tread portion outwardly to the extended position shown in Fig.2. For holding the lever in either limit of motion, the upper portionthereof is provided with a pair of spaced notches 23 and a foot operatedspring pawl 24: is secured to the car platform 25 for collectivelyengaging one of the notches.

From the foregoing it is observed that a very simple structure has beenprovided which is easily operated and which is durable and efiicient inoperation. It will be understood that various minor changes andmodifications within the scope of the appended claims may be madewithout cleparting in any manner from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An extension ear step comprising the combination with stationarysteps, of a riser pivoted thereto, a tread pivoted to the lower; end ofthe riser, a link pivoted to the forward portion of the tread, a leverslidably mounted at the side of the stationary steps. and having pivotalconnection with the link and a bracket on the side of the steps adaptedto embrace the link when the steps are in closed position and to guidethe link during a portion of its movement.

2. An extension car step comprising the combination with stationarysteps, of plates secured to the sides thereof and provided withoutwardly extending pint-les, a riser, a member secured to each end ofthe riser, a member secured to each end of the'riser and having one endextending past the riser and directed laterally and having its other endterminating short of the riser and directed laterally, a tread portionprovided with outwardly extending pintles passed through the last-namedend of the member and the first-mentioned pintles being passed throughthe other end of the member.

In testimony whereof, we ali ix our signatures, in the presence of twowitnesses.

DAVID L. MILLER. FRED T. LOBAOH. CHARLES F. PETERS.

Witnesses:

HENRY 0. Born, ALFRED J. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 6,

